Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Wälti; Foord, Maanum, Mariona; Russo
Substitutes: Zinsberger (GK), Williams (GK), Wubben-Moy, Codina, Mead, Kafaji, Hurtig, Kühl, Blackstenius, Wienroither, Cooney-Cross, Reid
Arsenal are through to the knockout round of the Champions League after Lina Hurtig’s late second half winner saw off Juventus. After a fairly tame first half, Arsenal were far better in the second half, and had a number of half chances squandered until Hurtig struck late.
Renée Slegers named the same team that beat Tottenham last weekend, with Steph Catley continuing at centre back, and Beth Mead on the bench.
First Half
Arsenal started brightly but couldn’t work a telling chance in the opening exchanges. With neither side having a shot within the first twenty minutes, only a crucial intervention from Calligaris prevented Russo from heading Catley’s deep cross.
Juventus had the first effort, with a tame shot after Arsenal half-cleared a corner.
Maanum then had Arsenal’s first effort. She won the ball back after Foord had been beaten out, and played a one-two with Russo. Maanum struck hard, and Peyraud-Magnin got a touch that the referee somehow missed.
Juventus threatened on the break. Krumbiegel played a good ball for Caruso, who then passed beyond Williamson and Catley for Cantore. Cantore shifted into the box and shot, but her effort went straight at Van Domselaar.
Cantore’s glancing header from Lanzini’s deep cross would then skim wide of Van Domselaar’s far post.
McCabe would then send in a dangerous corner kick, with Peyraud-Magnin boxed out, but an Arsenal player couldn’t react first to the loose ball.
Second half
Arsenal had two good chances to take the lead around the hour mark. First, Mariona and McCabe combined brilliantly, with Mariona sent away down the left. She cut back for Maanum, whose shot went just wide of the post. Then, from a corner Mariona had a shot blocked on the line.
On 66 minutes, Arsenal made a double change. Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius replaced Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum.
Arsenal had another good chance from a set piece on 69 minutes. McCabe’s delivery from the corner was pinpoint, but from close range, Williamson headed over.
Juventus then nearly took the lead on 73 minutes. Bonansea held off Fox on the left and then found Caruso in the middle of the box. Caruso’s softly hit shot was heading for the bottom corner, but Van Domselaar, at full extension, palmed it around the post.
On 80 minutes, Slegers made a further change, with Lina Hurtig replacing Alessia Russo, with Mariona moving into the #10 position.
Hurtig’s first involvement was to head into the side netting after she got above Krumbiegel to meet Williamson’s deep cross.
Hurtig then should’ve scored on 83 minutes. Mariona slipped the ball in behind for Little, who crossed in front of goal. Peyraud-Magnin was beaten by the cross, but from right in front of goal, Hurtig, leaning down, headed the ball over the bar.
Slegers made one final change on 88 minutes, with Rosa Kafaji replacing Kim Little.
Arsenal took the lead on 89 minutes. Mead was first to a loose ball in midfield and she then slipped Blackstenius in behind, who cut the ball back across the penalty area. Lenzini got there first but couldn’t get her clearance away and Hurtig blocked the clearance and got the ball over the goal line. 1-0.
There were 4 minutes added on.
In the third minute of added time, Blackstenius nearly sealed the points. She and Kafaji pressed well in midfield to win the ball back, and Kafaji’s through ball was timed perfectly to set Blackstenius away. Bearing down on Peyraud-Magnin, her shot went straight at the ‘keeper, and Mead couldn’t quite get to the rebound.
I don’t know how you get this written and posted so quickly!
Bit of churning stomach end to the match, but we are thru
They write the main part as the match goes on. The beginning and the last part might slightly change depending on the final result (general context or feeling).
Or they just ask AI to generate the text lol
Definitely don’t ask AI!
Good result against a decent team but we struggled to create chances let alone finish them which is like more of the same. There was a bit of stodginess alongside misplayed final touches/ passes especially in the first half. What with players slipping and passes not connecting it somehow didn’t feel like a homegame. Still celebrations, we are in the quarter finals of the champions league.
They got the result from a team that seemed to park the bus, well done! Some poor passing, corners, free kicks and the like and McCabe should have been booked twice for being an idiot as usual. The worst I have seen from her and that is saying something.(4/10)
Hi from Dublin, GFY.
McCabe has 2 yellows in 16 games this year….bit harsh imo
Surely an improvement tho? 😁
I noticed a tired team, I think RS has to start working with the bench options, we’re not always going to play at a high level, playing poorly and winning is valid, this is the path for those who want to win regardless of how they play, I wasn’t believing that Arsenal would score a goal almost at the end, it was very good.